Thursday, October 29, 2009

Great wedding Shopping Destinations in India: PART 2

Continuing from my previous article, I take you on to the next great wedding shopping destination in India. Other than Delhi, the next city that comes to my mind that’s great for wedding shopping is- JAIPUR- The capital city of Rajasthan.

JAIPUR - One of my favorite cities in India. Favorite, not because I live here or because it is famed to be the land of forts and Palaces, the land of riches, color and unparalleled heritage. Favorite because, this city offers so much that money can and cannot buy! Favorite because of the hospitality and the kind of treatment you will receive from the people during your shopping excursions and otherwise. Favorite because this is the city where you can find India at its colourful best!

Let’s start with what all you need to shop for that you can find in JAIPUR? Considering that, we get married once and want the best for ourselves, our life and the people in it. There is a lot to shop and find. Some of them are:
o Invitation cards
o Bags
o Home furnishing
o Home décor stuff
o Silverware
o Trousseau packing
o Gifts
o Authentic arts
o Handicrafts
o Exquisite gems
o Jewellery (Silver/ Gold/ Color stones)
o Designer marble products
o Traditional print, block Print garments and textiles
o Blue pottery
o Rajais (blankets/ quilts)
o Trinkets
o Lak ki chudi (ethnic bangles)
o Mojdis (special Rajashtani footware)
o Bandhani work (Traditional Rajasthani Tie & Dye)
o Miniature paintings
o Kundan jewellery
o Marble figures
o Gold filigree and inlay work...

Phew, the list seemed endless


The Jaipur bazaars are a treat for those who love to explore and discover. They are located in and around the famous Hawa Mahal, which is part of the walled city (The OLD JAIPUR City). Johari Bazaar, Bapu Bazaar, Nehru Bazaar, Chaura Rasta, (also called the Sawai Man Singh Highway), Tripolia Bazaar and the Mirza Ismail Road (Popularly known as M.I. ROAD) are some of the main shopping areas. Johari Bazaar is the one stop for jewellery and tie dye sarees, fabrics, suits, lehengas and textiles. Gopalji ka Rasta, and Haldiyon ka Rasta houses numerous establishments selling jewellery, gems, sweets, silverware etc. The Old city markets remain closed on Sunday. For handicrafts like puppets, bandahwars, wall hangings, white metal artifacts go to linking road next to saraogi mansion- Bapu Bazar. For wonderful trousseau packing visit Ratan textile and a few tiny shops next to Ratan. When in bapu Bazar do not miss the golgappas and kulfi faluda.



Bapu Bazaar and Nehru Bazaar, are also a must visit place for textiles, local perfumes, shoes made of camel skin (jutties/ mojaries), Rajasthani trinkets and bandhani work. Bapu Bazaar also Houses the famous SARAOGI MANSION Market- that has many famous stores, known for Indian bridal trousseau.

If at Saraogi Mansion, you must see the collection at Nikhaar fashions, Utsav Sarees, Pratapsons and for great banarasi handloom fabrics visit Banaraswala. These markets are completely closed on Sundays.



Tripolia Bazaar and Chaura Rasta too have textile outlets in addition to shops selling utensils, ironware and trinkets. It is also closed on Sunday.


If you are interested in carvings in marble and sandstone then head for Khazanawale Raasta. Close to this is the popular M.I. Road which houses a large number of emporia with a variety of goods ranging from jewellery, brass work, textiles, antiques, handicrafts, print fabric, vegetable dye fabric, block printing fabric, famouse lassiwala (Awesome must try drink), Suryamahal veg restaurant, Natraj, Handi & Copper chimney to grab a bite post your shopping sessions etc. The MI Road shops stock a large variety of articles to satisfy the tourists’ need like souvenirs, curios, gifts, handicrafts etc.


For block printed specialities, Kilol, Soma Shop, cottons, chhipa, Cotton curio, Gulabchand, Suruchi and Anokhi are great places to visit. Rajasthali, the official store of Rajasthan tourism, is a must try to find a galore of products under one roof. But if you are flying out, then the Sanganer village area, which is close to the airport, is worth going to for blue pottery and other specialities.


For wonderful and cheap home furnishings do take out some time and visit Seekar House. Bedspreads, bedsheets, Table mats, Table runners, Tablecloth, curtains, Quilts, name it and you got it all squeezed in the small seeker house market. You must bargain a lot to strike a great deal.
For more details on what all you can buy from Jaipur read another article on this BLOG: http://theroyalshaadi.blogspot.com/2008/08/mementoes-for-wedding-guests.html


For more details or shopping assistance in Rajasthan, feel free to write to us at dreams@theroyalshaadi.com

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Great wedding Shopping Destinations in India: PART I

Engaged and all set to tie the knot??? Have the money & the time to go across country to shop for you trousseau? Then this article and many more in this blog is going to be an interesting read.

This is the first article in this series. First because, my country is so full of splendor and great things across the length and breadth of its boundaries; that there cant be just one destination to mention.

We start with my favourite shopping destination and heart of India- DELHI. The Capital of the country definitely has a lot to offer- whatever your budget maybe. Delhi is definitely shoppers' paradise.

Home to many of India's leading and most talented fashion designers such as Tarun Tahillani, Manish Malhotra, Rohit Bal, Ashima & Leena, Aki Narula, Suneet Verma, Ranna Gill, JJ Valaya etc as well as has a lot of wholesale places across city.


Delhi is also home to some of the most well established clothes shops and jewelers in India, which have reinvented themselves over generations and are nationally if not internationally renowned. In recent years a great range of affordable but none the less, fashionable boutiques have comeup all over Delhi, catering to a variety of tastes and budgets. These are most prevalent in the Karol Bagh, South Extension and Greater Kailash areas.


For those with less in their pockets, Delhi has Chandni Chowk- where you can start from your wedding invite, go on to jewellery, then to cosmetics, shoes and finally the wedding day attire. Lajpat nagar, rajendar nagar and Karol bagh are also great for A to Z budget wedding shopping. from clothes to jewellery. Shoes to hand bags. Cosmetics to luggage you can buy everything in the shops/ markets of these areas, and that too within a great budget!


Certain areas of Delhi, notably GK, South Extension, Hauz Khas Village, Khan Market showcase some of Delhi's finest boutiques, but remember they will burn a hole in your pocket! Since you wont get married everyday, so its well worth it! If you are shopping in this section (South Delhi) do visit the designers mentioned above as well as don’t forget ushnakmal, meena bazaar, Nalli, Regal shoes, Da Milano, OOgaan, CTC Plaza, Design Vault etc.


However, if you are a more budget conscious shopper, do visit a few shops in these areas to get an idea of the latest styles and designs and then try and find similar items (which certainly are available) in the more affordable, but none the less chic shops located in Karol Bagh, Connaught Place, Lajpat Nagar, Kamla Nagar, Chandni Chowk etc.


MUST DO:


You must research before your trip, to get an idea of the colors, styles and designs of outfits that are in and goes with your taste and budgets. Browse through wedding magazines, surf the web and ask your friends and family for their input.
Whilst shopping in India, it is very easy to get overwhelmed and confused by the amazing variety of items that are available. Make a list of what you like in each shop so that you can make an overall comparison and shortlist what you finally want to buy.